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L.D. 685, “An Act To Require Investigation and Prosecution of Assaults by Law Enforcement Officers against Unarmed Individuals”: requires the attorney general to prosecute all credible claims of assault by a law enforcement officer against an unarmed person, allows law enforcement agencies to investigate a claim of assault on an unarmed person by a law enforcement officer of another agency and removes the immunity from personal civil liability from a law enforcement officer who assaults an unarmed person.

L.D. 1044, “An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Prosecution of Individuals Possessing a Controlled Substance under Certain Circumstances”: prohibits from admission in court evidence derived as a result of a person’s seeking medical assistance when experiencing a drug overdose or for another person who is experiencing a drug overdose in proving the crime of unlawful possession of a scheduled drug.

L.D. 1112, “An Act To Amend the Maine Juvenile Code and Related Statutes”: provides that a person or entity performing a court-ordered mental health exam or evaluation of a juvenile may make a written demand for the juvenile’s records; clarifies that juvenile crimes involving a useable amount of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, illegal transportation and certain types of intoxicating liquor need only be supported by a preponderance of the evidence; defines “mental disease or defect,” it is the same as the Maine Criminal Code except it excludes the juvenile level of mental or emotional development; removes duplicative or obsolete definitions for “he,” “law enforcement officer,” “organization” and “person”; clarifies that the general principles contained in the Maine Criminal Code with some exceptions are applicable to juvenile crimes; requires that a juvenile respond through counsel to a petition of allegation of a juvenile crime; provides that a juvenile or a juvenile’s counsel may answer a petition by denying allegations, by asserting the absence of criminal responsibility by reason of insanity or by not contesting the allegations otherwise the court must enter a denial; allows the court to accept that denial when the case has been continued for investigation and for a bind-over hearing; provides that a disposition hearing will be set for a juvenile if the court accepts an answer admitting or not contesting the allegations of the petition; provides that if the answer entered by a juvenile is a denial or an assertion of the absence of criminal responsibility by reason of insanity, or both, or if the court declines to accept an answer admitting or not contesting the allegations of the petition, an adjudicatory hearing must be set; provides a right to review of a disposition of a juvenile found incompetent to proceed; changes the period of time within which a juvenile may take an appeal from the juvenile court to the Superior Court to seven days after the entry of an order of disposition, is the appeal period as a petition contesting extradition.

L.D. 623, “An Act To Promote the Attainment of Higher Education Degrees”: spreads the financial aid out over the course of a student’s enrollment to ensure that enough financial aid is available to allow a student who is within 15 credits of completing the necessary requirements for graduation to pay for those credits.

L.D. 862, “An Act To Assist York County Community College”: adds $4 million for York County Community College.

L.D. 962, “An Act To Increase Access to Higher Education”: establishes a merit-based scholarship program for eligible students who graduate from high school in Maine and who are admitted to one of the institutions of the University of Maine System or the Maine Community College System for full or partial cost of tuition.

L.D. 1003, “Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study Accessibility and Affordability of Higher Education”: emergency bill, establishes the Commission to Study Accessibility and Affordability of Higher Education.

L.D. 1036, “An Act To Amend the Social Work Education Loan Repayment Program”: allows the Finance Authority of Maine to provide debt relief directly to the applicant or to make loan repayments to the lender, increases the number of applicants who may be eligible for loan relief to 40 applicants per year, decreases the maximum amount of debt relief to $1,000 and provides $40,000 appropriations.

L.D. 441, “Resolve, Directing the Public Utilities Commission To Develop a Plan To Reform Water Regulation”: directs the Public Utilities Commission to develop a plan to reform water regulation and report by Dec. 31, 2013; directs the commission to seek to process any filings submitted by water utilities for exemptions with as much deliberate speed as possible.

L.D. 1004, “An Act To Clarify Voting Procedures for Standard Water Districts”: clarifies that secret ballot voting for standard water districts is the method to be used to enact or amend a standard district charter by referendum, to elect trustees or to establish or amend a debt limit by referendum, even if a municipality in which the standard district is located has not accepted this method of voting.

L.D. 1026, “An Act To Amend the Charter of the Ashland Water and Sewer District”: gives the Ashland Water and Sewer District the authority to impose a lien on the property of an individual, firm or corporation for nonpayment of assessments for service used by the individual, firm or corporation.

L.D. 674, “An Act To Clarify the Natural Resources Protection Act”: emergency bill, changes the setback for significant vernal pool habitat, high and moderate value inland waterfowl and wading bird habitat and shorebird nesting, feeding and staging areas to 75 feet and provides a mechanism to compensate landowners for the property value losses incurred as a result of the setback.

L.D. 793, ” An Act Clarifying the Department of Environmental Protection’s Authority Relating to Compensation for Development Activity under the Natural Resources Protection Act”: prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection from requiring one form of compensation for damages to wetlands or certain bird habitats if the applicant proposing the activity prefers an alternative form of compensation.

L.D. 794, “An Act To Amend Setback Requirements and Standards Related to Species Migration under the Laws Regulating Development near Vernal Pools”: amends the laws regulating significant vernal pool habitat to account for species migration patterns and changes the area that is regulated as significant vernal pool habitat and the standards for development within the area regulated.

L.D. 824, “Resolve, Directing the Department of Environmental Protection To Develop a Rural Land Use Development Process”: directs the Department of Environmental Protection to develop a rural land use development process that would exempt development in rural areas of certain land within significant wildlife habitat.

L.D. 602, “An Act Regarding the Regulation of Consumer Finance Companies”: updates the allowable finance charges on consumer loans by companies subject to the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection.

L.D. 1018, ” An Act Regarding Preneed Funeral Insurance”: defines preneed insurance and permits its sale; requires the State Board of Funeral Service to provide the form, format and content of prearranged funeral agreements funded by preneed insurance; permits funeral directors to sell preneed insurance; requires disclosures with regard to the sale of preneed insurance that are consistent with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ life insurance disclosure model; and authorizes the payment of commissions in connection with the sale of preneed insurance.

Judiciary Committee; work sessions; room 438; State House

L.D. 45, “An Act To Include a Representative of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs in the House of Representatives”: includes a representative of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs in the Maine House of Representatives beginning with the 127th Legislature.

L.D. 64, “An Act To Place Land in Centerville in Trust for the Passamaquoddy Tribe”: adds land in Centerville to the Passamaquoddy Indian territory if that land is acquired by the secretary of the interior of the U.S. prior to Jan. 31, 2023, and is certified by the secretary as held for the benefit of the Passamaquoddy Tribe.

L.D. 147, “An Act Regarding Consent for Adoption”: requires that written consent of the original adoptive parent must be given before a petition of a second adoptive parent may be granted.

L.D. 165, “An Act To Prohibit the Use of Eminent Domain in Certain Public-Private Partnerships”: prohibits the use of the power of eminent domain for the development, operation, management, ownership, leasing or maintenance of a transportation facility as a public-private partnership project.

L.D. 209, “An Act To Strengthen the Rights of Grandparents under the Grandparents Visitation Act”: defines “significant existing relationship” with a grandparent as one who can prove a sufficient existing relationship with a grandchild has standing to seek contact with the child making clear that acting as a parent to a child meets the requirements of a “sufficient existing relationship” with a child, that is not the only relationship that meets the requirements.

L.D. 345, “An Act To Ensure the Confidentiality of Concealed Weapons Permit Holder Information”: emergency bill, makes personal and identifying information of concealed weapons permit holders confidential and prohibits a person who has received concealed weapons permit holder information from redistributing or disseminating the information to an unauthorized person.

L.D. 394, “An Act To Add Members of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission and Add Corresponding Members for the State”: adds to the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission two members of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and two members appointed by the governor.

L.D. 396, “An Act To Appropriate Sufficient Funds for Indigent Legal Services”: adds $9.5 million to increase reimbursement for legal services provided by the state for those who are entitled to $70 per hour effective Oct. 1 and $75 per hour effective July 1, 2014.

L.D. 425, “An Act To Change the Membership of the Family Law Advisory Commission”: adds a representative of an organization of guardians ad litem to the Family Law Advisory Commission.

L.D. 548, “An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Award of Spousal Support in Divorce Actions”: renames “general support” as “transitional support”; removes the rebuttable presumption against an award of transitional support for marriages shorter than 10 years; provides for an end to transitional support if either party dies or reaches normal retirement age or if the party receiving support remarries or cohabits with someone for more than one year; provides that an award of transitional support may be modified for any other significant change in circumstances of either party; renames “transitional support” as “rehabilitative support” and limits the award of rehabilitative support to four years from the date the divorce action is filed; and eliminates the ability of the court to award nominal support.

L.D. 552, “An Act To Expedite Court Proceedings by Providing Funds for Additional District Court Personnel”: adds $1.2 million for two judges, two deputy marshals, two assistant clerks, one law clerk and to expedite District Court proceedings.

L.D. 581, “An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Service of Process in Eviction Actions”: allows the mailing of the complaint to the defendant’s last known address and leaving the complaint at the defendant’s last and usual place of abode if at least three good faith efforts on three different days have been made to serve the defendant.

L.D. 640, “An Act Regarding Legal Representation in Certain Eviction Actions”: allows a person who is the sole member of a limited liability company or is a member of a LLC that is owned by a married couple or registered domestic partners who is not an attorney to appear in court for that company in an action for eviction.

Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee; room 208; Cross Building

L.D. 235, “An Act To Improve Insurance Coverage for Volunteer First Responders”: clarifies that an injury suffered by a volunteer firefighter or volunteer emergency medical services person occurring any time they are responding to a call is compensable.

L.D. 853, “Resolve, Requiring the Department of Labor To Establish a Fund To Assist Unemployed Individuals Lacking Transportation to Job Interviews”: requires the Department of Labor to establish a fund for the department’s career centers to assist unemployed individuals with costs associated with transportation to job interviews, including automotive repair costs.

Marine Resources Committee; public hearings; room 206; Cross Building

L.D. 482, “An Act To Improve the Quality of the Data Used in the Management of Maine’s Fisheries”: allows the commissioner of Marine Resources to share confidential landings data with the Department of Marine Resources, Bureau of Marine Patrol when necessary for reporting enforcement purposes; requires majority shareholders in corporate entities to identify themselves; authorizes the commissioner to suspend licenses for noncompliance with reporting requirements; prevents unlicensed crew members on lobster or crab fishing boats and scallop and sea urchin diving tenders from selling any catch and limits selling to certain licensed harvesters; expands the seaweed buyer’s license to include anyone buying seaweed for resale and removes the ability of marine worm and wholesale seafood dealers to harvest seaweed without a license; and expands the requirement to hold a retail license for the sale of all marine organisms.

L.D. 778, “An Act To Develop Principles To Guide Fisheries Management Decisions”: establishes a means of determining the long-term goal of fisheries management in the state and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters would use the outcome testing to evaluate the effect of the proposed legislation or rules on fisheries management.

L.D. 811, “An Act To Provide Guidance for the Development of Marine Fisheries Management Plans”: establishes general requirements for the development of fisheries management plans by the commissioner of Marine Resources, provides that the commissioner may adopt a management plan or other policy on the conservation or regulation of marine organisms only after prior notice and public hearing and with the advice and consent of the Marine Resources Advisory Council and requires that a management plan be developed with advice and input from the advisory council for the species for which the plan is developed.

State and Local Government Committee; work sessions; room 214; Cross Building

L.D. 134, “Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Reduce the Size of the Legislature”: amends the Maine Constitution so that the House has 101 members and the Senate has 25 members.

L.D. 813, “An Act To Promote the Sale of Maine Milk”: requires a state-owned or state-operated facility that sells or contracts with a person to sell beverages directly to the public to have available for sale milk processed at a milk plant in the state except facilities in an institutional setting in which sales of beverages to the public are incidental.

L.D. 833, “An Act To Allow Municipalities To Place Liens for Failure To Pay Storm Water Assessments”: allows municipalities to place liens on real estate for delinquent storm water disposal system accounts.

L.D. 855, “Resolve, To Create a Study Group To Research the Possibility of a Virtual Legislature”: emergency bill, establishes the Task Force To Study Issues Associated with Implementation of a Virtual Legislature.

L.D. 947, “An Act To Ensure the Effectiveness of Constitutional Officers”: prohibits the secretary of state, treasurer of state and attorney general from being a candidate for federal office or governor.

L.D. 978, ” An Act To Enhance Public Participation in Legislative Committee Proceedings through the Internet”: authorizes the Legislative Council to make all proceedings of the joint standing committees of the Legislature available to the public through a live video broadcast that allows for remote public participation, and records of these proceedings are permanent records.

Transportation Committee; work session; room 126; State House

L.D. 983, “An Act To Make Allocations from Maine Turnpike Authority Funds for the Maine Turnpike Authority for the Calendar Year Ending December 31, 2014”: makes allocations from gross revenues of the Maine Turnpike Authority for the payment of the authority’s operating expenses for the calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2014.

Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee; public hearings; room 437; State House

L.D. 31, “An Act To Increase Gaming Opportunities for Charitable Fraternal and Veterans’ Organizations”: permits beginning Jan. 1, 2014, the Gambling Control Board to issue a license to a charitable nonprofit organization that is a fraternal organization or a veterans’ organization that is tax-exempt under the federal Internal Revenue Code to operate up to five slot machines on premises that are owned or leased by the organization, serve as its primary headquarters for fulfilling its charitable mission and are located in a municipality that has, by referendum of the voters, approved the operation of slot machines in that municipality.

L.D. 227, “An Act Concerning High-stakes Beano”: eliminates restrictions on high stakes beano and allows high stakes electronic beano for Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and the Passamaquoddy Tribe.

L.D. 350, “An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Gambling”: changes the law to reflect the addition of casinos, requires the forfeiture of money from the winnings of voluntarily excluded persons and the deposit of this money in the General Fund for gambling addiction services, requires the protection of the information as confidential of those who voluntarily place themselves on the exclusion list, changes the way certain keys are handled within casinos, allows for temporary authorization to allow employees to work in positions for which a license is required during the licensing process, removes the requirement that all key executives be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and removes the requirement that slot machines have nonresettable meters.

L.D. 607, “An Act To Make an Employee Who Sells Alcoholic Beverages or Tobacco to a Minor Responsible for Paying the Fine”: removes the liability of an employer who did not have knowledge of an employee selling tobacco and alcohol to minors.

L.D. 938, “An Act To Update the Laws Relating to the Tri-state Lotto and the Payment of Prizes to Minors”: sets the minimum payout by the Tri-state Lotto Commission for prizes to not less than 50 percent of gross sales, allows for the Tri-state Lotto Commission to implement both draw and instant ticket games, requires the Tri-state Lotto Commission to offset against winnings, in addition to debts for child support, debts related to unemployment overpayment and tax liabilities.

L.D. 694, “An Act To Clarify Solid Waste Policy”: emergency bill, amends the declaration of policy in the laws governing waste management to provide that the Legislature find that the highest and best use of a state-owned solid waste facility is for waste that cannot be handled by waste reduction, reuse and recycling and provides that a change in the type or volume of waste accepted by a facility requires approval by the Department of Environmental Protection and a public benefit determination.

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Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee; work sessions; room 436; State House

L.D. 526, “An Act To Allow for the Disposition of Certain Items Confiscated from Criminals Convicted of Sexual Exploitation of Minors”: extends the period of time in which a motion may be filed for forfeiture of equipment used in the sexual exploitation of minors.

L.D. 926, “An Act To Increase the Penalty for an Adult Who Provides Alcohol to a Minor Involved in a Fatal Accident”: makes the furnishing liquor to a minor a class B crime if the liquor causes the death of the minor or another individual.

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